Summary The City has received an application for a Site Plan for a proposed development known as Foundation Park Phase 2. The Site Plan is currently under review by City Staff. The area where development is proposed is commonly referred to as "Alachua Research Park" or "Foundation Park", and is located northeast of the intersection of NW US Highway 441 and NW 119th Terrace, southeast of the intersection of County Road 2054 (also known as Rachael Boulevard) and NW 119th Terrace, east of the Santa Fe College Perry Center, and west of the State of Florida Building (location map attached).
The Site Plan proposes the construction of three (3) ±42,460 square foot buildings, with associated parking, utilities, and supporting site improvements. The southwestern portion of the subject property is presently developed with a ±42,460 square foot building and associated site improvements.
The Site Plan shows 56 regulated trees and 7 heritage trees along the north perimeter of the subject property that are proposed for removal. According to materials submitted by the project’s landscape architect, the majority of the trees proposed for removal are of an undesirable species and present potential long-term safety and maintenance issues.
Section 6.2.1(D)(1) of the City’s Land Development Regulations (LDRs) requires new trees to be installed to replace healthy regulated trees, and requires regulated trees to be replaced on a one-for-one basis, and for heritage and champion trees to be replaced on an inch-for-inch basis. The number of trees proposed for removal (56 regulated trees and 7 heritage trees) would require 223 trees to be planted to mitigate for those proposed for removal.
The Site Plan proposes to provide a total of 45 replacement trees on-site to partially mitigate for those proposed for removal. The applicant has requested the City consider off-site mitigation in accordance with Section 6.2.1(D)(7) of the City’s LDRs for those trees that cannot be accommodated through on-site mitigation due to the location of the proposed buildings, parking, and code-required tree plantings.
When required tree replacement cannot be accommodated through on-site mitigation, Section 6.2.1(D)(7) of the City’s LDRs allows off-site mitigation by permitting off-site mitigation trees to be planted in City-owned properties and parks, City rights-of-way, preservation or conservation areas owned by the City, and within medians and rights-of-way of State and County roads where an interlocal agreement authorizes such plantings. The formula for the calculation off-site mitigation is provided within Section 6.2.1(D)(7)(c) of the City’s LDRs, and is equal to the cost of the replacement tree, plus installation (including labor and equipment), plus maintenance for one year, plus fund administration. Section 6.2.1(D)(7)(c) requires the fee for off-site mitigation to be adopted by the City Commission through resolution.
The applicant for the Site Plan has provided a memorandum that calculates the payment required for off-site mitigation in accordance with the formula provided within Section 6.2.1(D)(7)(c) of the City’s LDRs. This memorandum is attached to Resolution 17-03 as Exhibit "B".
The required payment for off-site mitigation is $17,725.24. In accordance with Section 6.2.1(D)(7)(d) of the City’s LDRs, the fee for off-site mitigation must be paid to the City prior to the issuance of a building permit for new construction proposed by the Site Plan.
Resolution 17-03 also would require off-site mitigation to be a condition of any final development order for the property associated with the Site Plan.
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